Chapter 10

1List northerne laddes to blither thingsThen yet were brought to light,Performed by our countriemenIn many a fray and fight:2Of Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough,And William of Cloudisly,Who were in fauour with the king,For all their misery.3Yong William of the wine-seller,When yeoman he was made,Gan follow then his father’s steps:He loued a bonny maide.4‘God’s crosse,’ quoth William, ‘if I misse,And may not of her speed,I’le make a thousand northern heartsFor very wo to bleed.’5Gone he is a wooing now,Our Ladie well him guide!To merry Mansfield, where I trowA time he will abide.6‘Soone dop the dore, faire Cicelie bright,I come with all the hast:I come a wooing thee for loue,Here am I come at last.’7‘I know you not,’ quoth Cicelie tho,‘From whence that yee bee come;My loue you may not haue, I trow,I vow by this faire sonne.8‘For why, my loue is fixt so sureVpon another wight;I swere by sweet Saint Anne, I’le neuerAbuse him, out of sight.9‘This night I hope to see my loue,In all his pride and glee;If there were thousands, none but himMy heart would ioy to see.’10‘God’s curse vpon him,’ yong William said,‘Before me that hath sped!A foule ill on the carrion nurseThat first did binde his head!’11Gan William tho for to prepareA medicine for that chaffe:‘His life,’ quoth he, ‘full hard may fare;Hee’s best to keepe alaffe.’12He drew then out his bright brown sword,Which was so bright and keene;A stouter man and hardierNere handled sword, I weene.13‘Browne tempered, strong, and worthy blade,Vnto thy maister show,If now to triall thou bee put,How thou canst bide a blow.’14Yong William till an oake gan hie,Which was in compasse roundWell six and fifty inches nie,And feld it to the ground.15‘So mot he fare,’ quoth William tho,‘That for her loue hath laidWhich I haue loued, and nere did knowHim suter till that maide.16‘And now, deare father, stout and strong,William of Cloudesley,How happie were thy troubled sonneIf here I mot thee see.17‘And thy too brethren, Adam BellAnd Clim of the Clough;Against a thousand men, and more,We foure would be enough.18‘Growne it is full foure a clocke,And night will come beliue;Come on, thou lurden, Cislei’s loue,This night must I thee shriue.19‘Prepare thee strong, thou fow[l] black caufe!What ere thou be, I weeneI’le giue thy coxcomb saick a girdIn Mansfield as neuer was seene.’20William a yong faune had slaine,In Sherwood, merry forrest;A fairer faune for man’s meatIn Sherwood was neuer drest.21Hee hied then till a northerne lasse,Not halfe a mile him fro;He said, Dop dore, thou good old nurse,That in to thee I goe.22‘I faint with being in the wood;Lo heere I haue a kid,Which I haue slo for thee and I;Come dresse it then, I bid.23‘Fetch bread and other iolly fare,Whereof thou hast some store;A blither gest this hundred yeareCame neuer here before.’24The good old nant gan hie a paceTo let yong William in;‘A happie nurse,’ quoth William then,‘As can be lightly seene.25‘Wend till that house hard by,’ quoth he,‘That’s made of lime and stone,Where is a lasse, faire Cisse,’ hee said;‘I loue her as my owne.26‘If thou can fetch her vnto me,That we may merry be,I make a vow, in the forrest,Of deare thou shalt haue fee.’27‘Rest then, faire sir,’ the woman said;‘I sweare by good Saint Iohn,I will bring to you that same maideFull quickly and anon.’28‘Meane time,’ quoth William, ‘I’le be cookeAnd see the faune i-drest;A stouter cooke did neuer comeWithin the faire forrest.’29Thick blith old lasse had wit enowFor to declare his minde;So fast she hi’d, and nere did stay,But left William behind.30Where William, like a nimble cooke,Is dressing of the fare,And for this damsell doth he looke;‘I would that she were here!’31‘Good speed, blithe Cisse,’ quoth that old lasse;‘God dild yee,’ quoth Cisley againe;‘How done you, nant Ione?’ she said,‘Tell me it, I am faine.’32The good old Ione said weele she was,‘And commen in an arrand till you;For you must to my cottage gone,Full quick, I tell you true;33‘Where we full merry meane to be,All with my elder lad:’When Cissley heard of it, truely,She was exceeding glad.34‘God’s curse light on me,’ quoth Cissley tho,‘If with you I doe not hie;I neuer ioyed more forsoothThen in your company.’35Happy the good-wife thought her selfeThat of her purpose she had sped,And home with Cisley she doth come,So lightly did they tread.36And comming in, here William sooneHad made ready his fare;The good old wife did wonder muchSo soone as she came there.37Cisley to William now is come,God send her mickle glee!Yet was she in a maze, God wot,When she saw it was hee.38‘Had I beene ware, good sir,’ she said,‘Of that it had beene you,I would haue staid at home in sooth,I tell you very true.’39‘Faire Cisley,’ then said William kind,‘Misdeeme thou not of mee;I sent not for thee to the endTo do thee iniury.40‘Sit downe, that we may talke a while,And eate all of the bestAnd fattest kidde that euer was slaineIn merry Sirwood forrest.’41His louing words wan Cisley thenTo keepe with him a while;But in the meane time Cislei’s loueOf her was tho beguile.42A stout and sturdie man he wasOf quality and kind,And knowne through all the north countryTo beare a noble minde.43‘But what,’ quoth William, ‘do I care?If that he meane to weare,First let him winne; els neuer shallHe haue the maide, I sweare.’44Full softly is her louer come,And knocked at the dore;But tho he mist of Cislei’s roome,Whereat he stampt and swore.45‘A mischief on his heart,’ quoth he,‘That hath enlured the maideTo be with him in company!’He car’d not what he sayd.46He was so with anger moouedHe sware a well great oth,‘Deere should he pay, if I him knew,Forsooth and by my troth!’47Gone he is to finde her out,Not knowing where she is;Still wandring in the weary wood,His true-loue he doth misse.48William purchast hath the game,Which he doth meane to hold:‘Come rescew her, and if you can,And dare to be so bold!’49At length when he had wandred longAbout the forrest wide,A candle-light a furlong offFull quickly he espied.50Then to the house he hied him fast,Where quickly he gan hereThe voice of his owne deere true-loue,A making bonny cheere.51Then gan he say to Cisley tho,O Cisley, come a way!I haue beene wandring thee to findeSince shutting in of day.52‘Who calls faire Cisse?’ quoth William then;‘What carle dares bee so boldOnce to aduenture to her to speakeWhom I haue now in hold?’53‘List thee, faire sir,’ quoth Cislei’s loue,‘Let quickly her from you part;For all your lordly words, I sweareI’le haue her, or make you smart.’54Yong William to his bright browne swordGan quickly then to take:‘Because thou so dost challenge me,I’le make thy kingdome quake.55‘Betake thee to thy weapon strong;Faire time I giue to thee;And for my loue as well as thineA combat fight will I.’56‘Neuer let sonne,’ quoth Cislei’s loue,‘Shine more vpon my head,If I doe flie, by heauen aboue,Wert thou a giant bred.’57To bilbo-blade gat William tho,And buckler stiffe and strong;A stout battaile then they fought,Well nie two houres long.58Where many a grieuous wound was giueTo each on either part;Till both the champions then were droueAlmost quite out of heart.59Pitteous mone faire Cisley made,That all the forrest rong;The grieuous shrikes made such a noise,She had so shrill a tongue.60At last came in the keepers three,With bowes and arrowes keene,Where they let flie among these two,An hundred as I weene.61William, stout and strong in heart,When he had them espied,Set on corrage for his part;Among the thickst he hied.62The chiefe ranger of the woodsAt first did William smite;Where, at on blow, he smot his headFro off his shoulders quite.63And being in so furious teene,About him then he laid;He slew immediatly the wightWas sutor to the maide.64Great moane was then made;The like was neuer heard;Which made the people all aroundTo crie, they were so feard.65‘Arme! arme!’ the country cried,‘For God’s loue quickly hie!’Neuer was such a slaughter seeneIn all the north country.66Will[iam] still, though wounded sore,Continued in his fightTill he had slaine them all foure,That very winter-night.67All the country then was raisd,The traytor for to takeThat for the loue of Cisley faireHad all this slaughter make.68To the woods hied William tho—’Twas best of all his play—Where in a caue with Cisley faireHe liued many a day.69Proclamation then was sentThe country all around,The lord of Mansfield should he beThat first the traytor found.70Till the court these tydings came,Where all men did bewaileThe yong and lusty William,Which so had made them quaile.71Hied vp then William Cloudesley,And lustie Adam Bell,And famous Clim of the Clough,Which three then did excell.72To the king they hied them fast,Full quickly and anon;‘Mercy I pray,’ quoth old William,‘For William my sonne.’73‘No mercy, traitors,’ quoth the king,‘Hangd shall yee be all foure;Vnder my nose this plot haue you laidTo bringe to passe before.’74‘In sooth,’ bespake then Adam Bell,‘Ill signe Your Grace hath seeneOf any such comotionSince with you we haue beene.75‘If then we can no mercy haue,But leese both life and goods,Of your good grace we take our leaueAnd hie vs to the woods.’76‘Arme, arme,’ then quoth the king,‘My merry men euerychone,Full fast againe these rebbells nowVnto the woods are gone.77‘A, wo is vs! what shall we doo,Or which way shall we worke,To hunt them forth out of the woods,So traytrouslie there that lurke?’78‘List you,’ quoth a counsellor graue,A wise man he seemd;The[n] craued the king his pardon freeVnto them to haue deemd.79‘God’s forbod!’ quoth the king,‘I neuer it will do!For they shall hang, each mother’s sonne;Faire sir, I tell you true.’80Fifty thousand men were chargedAfter them for to take;Some of them, set in sundry townes,In companies did waite.81To the woods gan some to goe,In hope to find them out;And them perforce they thought to take,If they might find them out.82To the woods still as they cameDispatched still they were;Which made full many a trembling heart,And many a man in feare.83Still the outlawes, Adam BellAnd Clim of the Clough,Made iolly cheere with venison,Strong drinke and wine enough.84‘Christ me blesse!’ then said our king,‘Such men were neuer knowne;They are the stoutest-hearted menThat manhoode euer showne.85‘Come, my secretary good,And cause to be declaredA generall pardone to them all,Which neuer shall be discared.86‘Liuing plenty shall they haue,Of gold and eke of fee,If they will, as they did before,Come liue in court with me.’87Sodenly went forth the newes,Declared by trumpets sound,Whereof these three were well aduis’d,In caue as they were in ground.88‘But list you, sirs,’ quoth William yong,‘I dare not trust the king;It is some fetch is in his head,Whereby to bring vs in.89‘Nay, stay we here: or first let meA messenger be sentVnto the court, where I may knowHis Maiestie’s intent.’90This pleased Adam Bell:‘So may we liue in peace,We are at his most high command,And neuer will we cease.91‘But if that still we shall be vrged,And called by traitrous name,And threated hanging for euery thing,His Highnesse is to blame.92‘Neare had His Grace subiects more true,And sturdier then wee,Which are at His Highnesse will;God send him well to bee!’93So to the court is yong William gone,To parley with the king,Where all men to the king’s presenceDid striue him for to bring.94When he before the king was come,He kneeled down full low;He shewed quickly to the kingWhat duty they did owe;95In such delightfull order blith,The king was quickly wonneTo comfort them in their request,As he before had done.96‘Fetch bread and drinke,’ then said His Grace,‘And meat all of the best;And stay all night here at the court,And soundly take thy rest.’97‘Gramercies to Your Grace,’ said William,‘For pardon graunted I see:’‘For signe thereof, here take my seale,And for more certainty.’98‘God’s curse vpon me,’ sayd William,‘For my part if I meaneEuer againe to stirre vp strife!It neuer shall bee seene.’99The nobles all to William came,He was so stout and trimme,And all the ladies, for very ioy,Did come to welcome him.100‘Faire Cisley now I haue to wife,In field I haue her wonne;’‘Bring her here, for God’s loue,’ said they all,‘Full welcome shall she be [soone].’101Forth againe went William backe,To wood that he did hie,And to his father there he shewdThe king his pardone free.102‘Health to His Grace,’ quoth Adam Bell,‘I beg it on my knee!’The like said Clim of the Clough,And William of Cloudesley.103To the court they all prepare,Euen as fast as they can hie,Where graciously they were receiud,With mirth and merry glee.104Cisley faire is wend aloneVpon a gelding faire;A proprer damsell neuer cameIn any courtly ayre.105‘Welcome, Cisley,’ said the queene,‘A lady I thee make,To wait vpon my owne person,In all my chiefest state.’106So quickly was this matter done,Which was so hardly doubted,That all contentions after thatFrom court were quickly rowted.107Fauourable was the king;So good they did him finde,The[y] neuer after sought againeTo vex his royall minde.108Long time they liued in court,So neare vnto the kingThat neuer after was attemptOffred for any thing.109God aboue giue all men graceIn quiet for to liue,And not rebelliously abroadTheir princes for to grieue.110Let not the hope of pardon mooueA subiect to attemptHis soueraigne’s anger, or his loueFrom him for to exempt.111But that all men may ready beWith all their maine and mightTo serue the Lord, and loue the King,In honor, day and night!

1List northerne laddes to blither thingsThen yet were brought to light,Performed by our countriemenIn many a fray and fight:

List northerne laddes to blither things

Then yet were brought to light,

Performed by our countriemen

In many a fray and fight:

2Of Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough,And William of Cloudisly,Who were in fauour with the king,For all their misery.

Of Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough,

And William of Cloudisly,

Who were in fauour with the king,

For all their misery.

3Yong William of the wine-seller,When yeoman he was made,Gan follow then his father’s steps:He loued a bonny maide.

Yong William of the wine-seller,

When yeoman he was made,

Gan follow then his father’s steps:

He loued a bonny maide.

4‘God’s crosse,’ quoth William, ‘if I misse,And may not of her speed,I’le make a thousand northern heartsFor very wo to bleed.’

‘God’s crosse,’ quoth William, ‘if I misse,

And may not of her speed,

I’le make a thousand northern hearts

For very wo to bleed.’

5Gone he is a wooing now,Our Ladie well him guide!To merry Mansfield, where I trowA time he will abide.

Gone he is a wooing now,

Our Ladie well him guide!

To merry Mansfield, where I trow

A time he will abide.

6‘Soone dop the dore, faire Cicelie bright,I come with all the hast:I come a wooing thee for loue,Here am I come at last.’

‘Soone dop the dore, faire Cicelie bright,

I come with all the hast:

I come a wooing thee for loue,

Here am I come at last.’

7‘I know you not,’ quoth Cicelie tho,‘From whence that yee bee come;My loue you may not haue, I trow,I vow by this faire sonne.

‘I know you not,’ quoth Cicelie tho,

‘From whence that yee bee come;

My loue you may not haue, I trow,

I vow by this faire sonne.

8‘For why, my loue is fixt so sureVpon another wight;I swere by sweet Saint Anne, I’le neuerAbuse him, out of sight.

‘For why, my loue is fixt so sure

Vpon another wight;

I swere by sweet Saint Anne, I’le neuer

Abuse him, out of sight.

9‘This night I hope to see my loue,In all his pride and glee;If there were thousands, none but himMy heart would ioy to see.’

‘This night I hope to see my loue,

In all his pride and glee;

If there were thousands, none but him

My heart would ioy to see.’

10‘God’s curse vpon him,’ yong William said,‘Before me that hath sped!A foule ill on the carrion nurseThat first did binde his head!’

‘God’s curse vpon him,’ yong William said,

‘Before me that hath sped!

A foule ill on the carrion nurse

That first did binde his head!’

11Gan William tho for to prepareA medicine for that chaffe:‘His life,’ quoth he, ‘full hard may fare;Hee’s best to keepe alaffe.’

Gan William tho for to prepare

A medicine for that chaffe:

‘His life,’ quoth he, ‘full hard may fare;

Hee’s best to keepe alaffe.’

12He drew then out his bright brown sword,Which was so bright and keene;A stouter man and hardierNere handled sword, I weene.

He drew then out his bright brown sword,

Which was so bright and keene;

A stouter man and hardier

Nere handled sword, I weene.

13‘Browne tempered, strong, and worthy blade,Vnto thy maister show,If now to triall thou bee put,How thou canst bide a blow.’

‘Browne tempered, strong, and worthy blade,

Vnto thy maister show,

If now to triall thou bee put,

How thou canst bide a blow.’

14Yong William till an oake gan hie,Which was in compasse roundWell six and fifty inches nie,And feld it to the ground.

Yong William till an oake gan hie,

Which was in compasse round

Well six and fifty inches nie,

And feld it to the ground.

15‘So mot he fare,’ quoth William tho,‘That for her loue hath laidWhich I haue loued, and nere did knowHim suter till that maide.

‘So mot he fare,’ quoth William tho,

‘That for her loue hath laid

Which I haue loued, and nere did know

Him suter till that maide.

16‘And now, deare father, stout and strong,William of Cloudesley,How happie were thy troubled sonneIf here I mot thee see.

‘And now, deare father, stout and strong,

William of Cloudesley,

How happie were thy troubled sonne

If here I mot thee see.

17‘And thy too brethren, Adam BellAnd Clim of the Clough;Against a thousand men, and more,We foure would be enough.

‘And thy too brethren, Adam Bell

And Clim of the Clough;

Against a thousand men, and more,

We foure would be enough.

18‘Growne it is full foure a clocke,And night will come beliue;Come on, thou lurden, Cislei’s loue,This night must I thee shriue.

‘Growne it is full foure a clocke,

And night will come beliue;

Come on, thou lurden, Cislei’s loue,

This night must I thee shriue.

19‘Prepare thee strong, thou fow[l] black caufe!What ere thou be, I weeneI’le giue thy coxcomb saick a girdIn Mansfield as neuer was seene.’

‘Prepare thee strong, thou fow[l] black caufe!

What ere thou be, I weene

I’le giue thy coxcomb saick a gird

In Mansfield as neuer was seene.’

20William a yong faune had slaine,In Sherwood, merry forrest;A fairer faune for man’s meatIn Sherwood was neuer drest.

William a yong faune had slaine,

In Sherwood, merry forrest;

A fairer faune for man’s meat

In Sherwood was neuer drest.

21Hee hied then till a northerne lasse,Not halfe a mile him fro;He said, Dop dore, thou good old nurse,That in to thee I goe.

Hee hied then till a northerne lasse,

Not halfe a mile him fro;

He said, Dop dore, thou good old nurse,

That in to thee I goe.

22‘I faint with being in the wood;Lo heere I haue a kid,Which I haue slo for thee and I;Come dresse it then, I bid.

‘I faint with being in the wood;

Lo heere I haue a kid,

Which I haue slo for thee and I;

Come dresse it then, I bid.

23‘Fetch bread and other iolly fare,Whereof thou hast some store;A blither gest this hundred yeareCame neuer here before.’

‘Fetch bread and other iolly fare,

Whereof thou hast some store;

A blither gest this hundred yeare

Came neuer here before.’

24The good old nant gan hie a paceTo let yong William in;‘A happie nurse,’ quoth William then,‘As can be lightly seene.

The good old nant gan hie a pace

To let yong William in;

‘A happie nurse,’ quoth William then,

‘As can be lightly seene.

25‘Wend till that house hard by,’ quoth he,‘That’s made of lime and stone,Where is a lasse, faire Cisse,’ hee said;‘I loue her as my owne.

‘Wend till that house hard by,’ quoth he,

‘That’s made of lime and stone,

Where is a lasse, faire Cisse,’ hee said;

‘I loue her as my owne.

26‘If thou can fetch her vnto me,That we may merry be,I make a vow, in the forrest,Of deare thou shalt haue fee.’

‘If thou can fetch her vnto me,

That we may merry be,

I make a vow, in the forrest,

Of deare thou shalt haue fee.’

27‘Rest then, faire sir,’ the woman said;‘I sweare by good Saint Iohn,I will bring to you that same maideFull quickly and anon.’

‘Rest then, faire sir,’ the woman said;

‘I sweare by good Saint Iohn,

I will bring to you that same maide

Full quickly and anon.’

28‘Meane time,’ quoth William, ‘I’le be cookeAnd see the faune i-drest;A stouter cooke did neuer comeWithin the faire forrest.’

‘Meane time,’ quoth William, ‘I’le be cooke

And see the faune i-drest;

A stouter cooke did neuer come

Within the faire forrest.’

29Thick blith old lasse had wit enowFor to declare his minde;So fast she hi’d, and nere did stay,But left William behind.

Thick blith old lasse had wit enow

For to declare his minde;

So fast she hi’d, and nere did stay,

But left William behind.

30Where William, like a nimble cooke,Is dressing of the fare,And for this damsell doth he looke;‘I would that she were here!’

Where William, like a nimble cooke,

Is dressing of the fare,

And for this damsell doth he looke;

‘I would that she were here!’

31‘Good speed, blithe Cisse,’ quoth that old lasse;‘God dild yee,’ quoth Cisley againe;‘How done you, nant Ione?’ she said,‘Tell me it, I am faine.’

‘Good speed, blithe Cisse,’ quoth that old lasse;

‘God dild yee,’ quoth Cisley againe;

‘How done you, nant Ione?’ she said,

‘Tell me it, I am faine.’

32The good old Ione said weele she was,‘And commen in an arrand till you;For you must to my cottage gone,Full quick, I tell you true;

The good old Ione said weele she was,

‘And commen in an arrand till you;

For you must to my cottage gone,

Full quick, I tell you true;

33‘Where we full merry meane to be,All with my elder lad:’When Cissley heard of it, truely,She was exceeding glad.

‘Where we full merry meane to be,

All with my elder lad:’

When Cissley heard of it, truely,

She was exceeding glad.

34‘God’s curse light on me,’ quoth Cissley tho,‘If with you I doe not hie;I neuer ioyed more forsoothThen in your company.’

‘God’s curse light on me,’ quoth Cissley tho,

‘If with you I doe not hie;

I neuer ioyed more forsooth

Then in your company.’

35Happy the good-wife thought her selfeThat of her purpose she had sped,And home with Cisley she doth come,So lightly did they tread.

Happy the good-wife thought her selfe

That of her purpose she had sped,

And home with Cisley she doth come,

So lightly did they tread.

36And comming in, here William sooneHad made ready his fare;The good old wife did wonder muchSo soone as she came there.

And comming in, here William soone

Had made ready his fare;

The good old wife did wonder much

So soone as she came there.

37Cisley to William now is come,God send her mickle glee!Yet was she in a maze, God wot,When she saw it was hee.

Cisley to William now is come,

God send her mickle glee!

Yet was she in a maze, God wot,

When she saw it was hee.

38‘Had I beene ware, good sir,’ she said,‘Of that it had beene you,I would haue staid at home in sooth,I tell you very true.’

‘Had I beene ware, good sir,’ she said,

‘Of that it had beene you,

I would haue staid at home in sooth,

I tell you very true.’

39‘Faire Cisley,’ then said William kind,‘Misdeeme thou not of mee;I sent not for thee to the endTo do thee iniury.

‘Faire Cisley,’ then said William kind,

‘Misdeeme thou not of mee;

I sent not for thee to the end

To do thee iniury.

40‘Sit downe, that we may talke a while,And eate all of the bestAnd fattest kidde that euer was slaineIn merry Sirwood forrest.’

‘Sit downe, that we may talke a while,

And eate all of the best

And fattest kidde that euer was slaine

In merry Sirwood forrest.’

41His louing words wan Cisley thenTo keepe with him a while;But in the meane time Cislei’s loueOf her was tho beguile.

His louing words wan Cisley then

To keepe with him a while;

But in the meane time Cislei’s loue

Of her was tho beguile.

42A stout and sturdie man he wasOf quality and kind,And knowne through all the north countryTo beare a noble minde.

A stout and sturdie man he was

Of quality and kind,

And knowne through all the north country

To beare a noble minde.

43‘But what,’ quoth William, ‘do I care?If that he meane to weare,First let him winne; els neuer shallHe haue the maide, I sweare.’

‘But what,’ quoth William, ‘do I care?

If that he meane to weare,

First let him winne; els neuer shall

He haue the maide, I sweare.’

44Full softly is her louer come,And knocked at the dore;But tho he mist of Cislei’s roome,Whereat he stampt and swore.

Full softly is her louer come,

And knocked at the dore;

But tho he mist of Cislei’s roome,

Whereat he stampt and swore.

45‘A mischief on his heart,’ quoth he,‘That hath enlured the maideTo be with him in company!’He car’d not what he sayd.

‘A mischief on his heart,’ quoth he,

‘That hath enlured the maide

To be with him in company!’

He car’d not what he sayd.

46He was so with anger moouedHe sware a well great oth,‘Deere should he pay, if I him knew,Forsooth and by my troth!’

He was so with anger mooued

He sware a well great oth,

‘Deere should he pay, if I him knew,

Forsooth and by my troth!’

47Gone he is to finde her out,Not knowing where she is;Still wandring in the weary wood,His true-loue he doth misse.

Gone he is to finde her out,

Not knowing where she is;

Still wandring in the weary wood,

His true-loue he doth misse.

48William purchast hath the game,Which he doth meane to hold:‘Come rescew her, and if you can,And dare to be so bold!’

William purchast hath the game,

Which he doth meane to hold:

‘Come rescew her, and if you can,

And dare to be so bold!’

49At length when he had wandred longAbout the forrest wide,A candle-light a furlong offFull quickly he espied.

At length when he had wandred long

About the forrest wide,

A candle-light a furlong off

Full quickly he espied.

50Then to the house he hied him fast,Where quickly he gan hereThe voice of his owne deere true-loue,A making bonny cheere.

Then to the house he hied him fast,

Where quickly he gan here

The voice of his owne deere true-loue,

A making bonny cheere.

51Then gan he say to Cisley tho,O Cisley, come a way!I haue beene wandring thee to findeSince shutting in of day.

Then gan he say to Cisley tho,

O Cisley, come a way!

I haue beene wandring thee to finde

Since shutting in of day.

52‘Who calls faire Cisse?’ quoth William then;‘What carle dares bee so boldOnce to aduenture to her to speakeWhom I haue now in hold?’

‘Who calls faire Cisse?’ quoth William then;

‘What carle dares bee so bold

Once to aduenture to her to speake

Whom I haue now in hold?’

53‘List thee, faire sir,’ quoth Cislei’s loue,‘Let quickly her from you part;For all your lordly words, I sweareI’le haue her, or make you smart.’

‘List thee, faire sir,’ quoth Cislei’s loue,

‘Let quickly her from you part;

For all your lordly words, I sweare

I’le haue her, or make you smart.’

54Yong William to his bright browne swordGan quickly then to take:‘Because thou so dost challenge me,I’le make thy kingdome quake.

Yong William to his bright browne sword

Gan quickly then to take:

‘Because thou so dost challenge me,

I’le make thy kingdome quake.

55‘Betake thee to thy weapon strong;Faire time I giue to thee;And for my loue as well as thineA combat fight will I.’

‘Betake thee to thy weapon strong;

Faire time I giue to thee;

And for my loue as well as thine

A combat fight will I.’

56‘Neuer let sonne,’ quoth Cislei’s loue,‘Shine more vpon my head,If I doe flie, by heauen aboue,Wert thou a giant bred.’

‘Neuer let sonne,’ quoth Cislei’s loue,

‘Shine more vpon my head,

If I doe flie, by heauen aboue,

Wert thou a giant bred.’

57To bilbo-blade gat William tho,And buckler stiffe and strong;A stout battaile then they fought,Well nie two houres long.

To bilbo-blade gat William tho,

And buckler stiffe and strong;

A stout battaile then they fought,

Well nie two houres long.

58Where many a grieuous wound was giueTo each on either part;Till both the champions then were droueAlmost quite out of heart.

Where many a grieuous wound was giue

To each on either part;

Till both the champions then were droue

Almost quite out of heart.

59Pitteous mone faire Cisley made,That all the forrest rong;The grieuous shrikes made such a noise,She had so shrill a tongue.

Pitteous mone faire Cisley made,

That all the forrest rong;

The grieuous shrikes made such a noise,

She had so shrill a tongue.

60At last came in the keepers three,With bowes and arrowes keene,Where they let flie among these two,An hundred as I weene.

At last came in the keepers three,

With bowes and arrowes keene,

Where they let flie among these two,

An hundred as I weene.

61William, stout and strong in heart,When he had them espied,Set on corrage for his part;Among the thickst he hied.

William, stout and strong in heart,

When he had them espied,

Set on corrage for his part;

Among the thickst he hied.

62The chiefe ranger of the woodsAt first did William smite;Where, at on blow, he smot his headFro off his shoulders quite.

The chiefe ranger of the woods

At first did William smite;

Where, at on blow, he smot his head

Fro off his shoulders quite.

63And being in so furious teene,About him then he laid;He slew immediatly the wightWas sutor to the maide.

And being in so furious teene,

About him then he laid;

He slew immediatly the wight

Was sutor to the maide.

64Great moane was then made;The like was neuer heard;Which made the people all aroundTo crie, they were so feard.

Great moane was then made;

The like was neuer heard;

Which made the people all around

To crie, they were so feard.

65‘Arme! arme!’ the country cried,‘For God’s loue quickly hie!’Neuer was such a slaughter seeneIn all the north country.

‘Arme! arme!’ the country cried,

‘For God’s loue quickly hie!’

Neuer was such a slaughter seene

In all the north country.

66Will[iam] still, though wounded sore,Continued in his fightTill he had slaine them all foure,That very winter-night.

Will[iam] still, though wounded sore,

Continued in his fight

Till he had slaine them all foure,

That very winter-night.

67All the country then was raisd,The traytor for to takeThat for the loue of Cisley faireHad all this slaughter make.

All the country then was raisd,

The traytor for to take

That for the loue of Cisley faire

Had all this slaughter make.

68To the woods hied William tho—’Twas best of all his play—Where in a caue with Cisley faireHe liued many a day.

To the woods hied William tho—

’Twas best of all his play—

Where in a caue with Cisley faire

He liued many a day.

69Proclamation then was sentThe country all around,The lord of Mansfield should he beThat first the traytor found.

Proclamation then was sent

The country all around,

The lord of Mansfield should he be

That first the traytor found.

70Till the court these tydings came,Where all men did bewaileThe yong and lusty William,Which so had made them quaile.

Till the court these tydings came,

Where all men did bewaile

The yong and lusty William,

Which so had made them quaile.

71Hied vp then William Cloudesley,And lustie Adam Bell,And famous Clim of the Clough,Which three then did excell.

Hied vp then William Cloudesley,

And lustie Adam Bell,

And famous Clim of the Clough,

Which three then did excell.

72To the king they hied them fast,Full quickly and anon;‘Mercy I pray,’ quoth old William,‘For William my sonne.’

To the king they hied them fast,

Full quickly and anon;

‘Mercy I pray,’ quoth old William,

‘For William my sonne.’

73‘No mercy, traitors,’ quoth the king,‘Hangd shall yee be all foure;Vnder my nose this plot haue you laidTo bringe to passe before.’

‘No mercy, traitors,’ quoth the king,

‘Hangd shall yee be all foure;

Vnder my nose this plot haue you laid

To bringe to passe before.’

74‘In sooth,’ bespake then Adam Bell,‘Ill signe Your Grace hath seeneOf any such comotionSince with you we haue beene.

‘In sooth,’ bespake then Adam Bell,

‘Ill signe Your Grace hath seene

Of any such comotion

Since with you we haue beene.

75‘If then we can no mercy haue,But leese both life and goods,Of your good grace we take our leaueAnd hie vs to the woods.’

‘If then we can no mercy haue,

But leese both life and goods,

Of your good grace we take our leaue

And hie vs to the woods.’

76‘Arme, arme,’ then quoth the king,‘My merry men euerychone,Full fast againe these rebbells nowVnto the woods are gone.

‘Arme, arme,’ then quoth the king,

‘My merry men euerychone,

Full fast againe these rebbells now

Vnto the woods are gone.

77‘A, wo is vs! what shall we doo,Or which way shall we worke,To hunt them forth out of the woods,So traytrouslie there that lurke?’

‘A, wo is vs! what shall we doo,

Or which way shall we worke,

To hunt them forth out of the woods,

So traytrouslie there that lurke?’

78‘List you,’ quoth a counsellor graue,A wise man he seemd;The[n] craued the king his pardon freeVnto them to haue deemd.

‘List you,’ quoth a counsellor graue,

A wise man he seemd;

The[n] craued the king his pardon free

Vnto them to haue deemd.

79‘God’s forbod!’ quoth the king,‘I neuer it will do!For they shall hang, each mother’s sonne;Faire sir, I tell you true.’

‘God’s forbod!’ quoth the king,

‘I neuer it will do!

For they shall hang, each mother’s sonne;

Faire sir, I tell you true.’

80Fifty thousand men were chargedAfter them for to take;Some of them, set in sundry townes,In companies did waite.

Fifty thousand men were charged

After them for to take;

Some of them, set in sundry townes,

In companies did waite.

81To the woods gan some to goe,In hope to find them out;And them perforce they thought to take,If they might find them out.

To the woods gan some to goe,

In hope to find them out;

And them perforce they thought to take,

If they might find them out.

82To the woods still as they cameDispatched still they were;Which made full many a trembling heart,And many a man in feare.

To the woods still as they came

Dispatched still they were;

Which made full many a trembling heart,

And many a man in feare.

83Still the outlawes, Adam BellAnd Clim of the Clough,Made iolly cheere with venison,Strong drinke and wine enough.

Still the outlawes, Adam Bell

And Clim of the Clough,

Made iolly cheere with venison,

Strong drinke and wine enough.

84‘Christ me blesse!’ then said our king,‘Such men were neuer knowne;They are the stoutest-hearted menThat manhoode euer showne.

‘Christ me blesse!’ then said our king,

‘Such men were neuer knowne;

They are the stoutest-hearted men

That manhoode euer showne.

85‘Come, my secretary good,And cause to be declaredA generall pardone to them all,Which neuer shall be discared.

‘Come, my secretary good,

And cause to be declared

A generall pardone to them all,

Which neuer shall be discared.

86‘Liuing plenty shall they haue,Of gold and eke of fee,If they will, as they did before,Come liue in court with me.’

‘Liuing plenty shall they haue,

Of gold and eke of fee,

If they will, as they did before,

Come liue in court with me.’

87Sodenly went forth the newes,Declared by trumpets sound,Whereof these three were well aduis’d,In caue as they were in ground.

Sodenly went forth the newes,

Declared by trumpets sound,

Whereof these three were well aduis’d,

In caue as they were in ground.

88‘But list you, sirs,’ quoth William yong,‘I dare not trust the king;It is some fetch is in his head,Whereby to bring vs in.

‘But list you, sirs,’ quoth William yong,

‘I dare not trust the king;

It is some fetch is in his head,

Whereby to bring vs in.

89‘Nay, stay we here: or first let meA messenger be sentVnto the court, where I may knowHis Maiestie’s intent.’

‘Nay, stay we here: or first let me

A messenger be sent

Vnto the court, where I may know

His Maiestie’s intent.’

90This pleased Adam Bell:‘So may we liue in peace,We are at his most high command,And neuer will we cease.

This pleased Adam Bell:

‘So may we liue in peace,

We are at his most high command,

And neuer will we cease.

91‘But if that still we shall be vrged,And called by traitrous name,And threated hanging for euery thing,His Highnesse is to blame.

‘But if that still we shall be vrged,

And called by traitrous name,

And threated hanging for euery thing,

His Highnesse is to blame.

92‘Neare had His Grace subiects more true,And sturdier then wee,Which are at His Highnesse will;God send him well to bee!’

‘Neare had His Grace subiects more true,

And sturdier then wee,

Which are at His Highnesse will;

God send him well to bee!’

93So to the court is yong William gone,To parley with the king,Where all men to the king’s presenceDid striue him for to bring.

So to the court is yong William gone,

To parley with the king,

Where all men to the king’s presence

Did striue him for to bring.

94When he before the king was come,He kneeled down full low;He shewed quickly to the kingWhat duty they did owe;

When he before the king was come,

He kneeled down full low;

He shewed quickly to the king

What duty they did owe;

95In such delightfull order blith,The king was quickly wonneTo comfort them in their request,As he before had done.

In such delightfull order blith,

The king was quickly wonne

To comfort them in their request,

As he before had done.

96‘Fetch bread and drinke,’ then said His Grace,‘And meat all of the best;And stay all night here at the court,And soundly take thy rest.’

‘Fetch bread and drinke,’ then said His Grace,

‘And meat all of the best;

And stay all night here at the court,

And soundly take thy rest.’

97‘Gramercies to Your Grace,’ said William,‘For pardon graunted I see:’‘For signe thereof, here take my seale,And for more certainty.’

‘Gramercies to Your Grace,’ said William,

‘For pardon graunted I see:’

‘For signe thereof, here take my seale,

And for more certainty.’

98‘God’s curse vpon me,’ sayd William,‘For my part if I meaneEuer againe to stirre vp strife!It neuer shall bee seene.’

‘God’s curse vpon me,’ sayd William,

‘For my part if I meane

Euer againe to stirre vp strife!

It neuer shall bee seene.’

99The nobles all to William came,He was so stout and trimme,And all the ladies, for very ioy,Did come to welcome him.

The nobles all to William came,

He was so stout and trimme,

And all the ladies, for very ioy,

Did come to welcome him.

100‘Faire Cisley now I haue to wife,In field I haue her wonne;’‘Bring her here, for God’s loue,’ said they all,‘Full welcome shall she be [soone].’

100

‘Faire Cisley now I haue to wife,

In field I haue her wonne;’

‘Bring her here, for God’s loue,’ said they all,

‘Full welcome shall she be [soone].’

101Forth againe went William backe,To wood that he did hie,And to his father there he shewdThe king his pardone free.

101

Forth againe went William backe,

To wood that he did hie,

And to his father there he shewd

The king his pardone free.

102‘Health to His Grace,’ quoth Adam Bell,‘I beg it on my knee!’The like said Clim of the Clough,And William of Cloudesley.

102

‘Health to His Grace,’ quoth Adam Bell,

‘I beg it on my knee!’

The like said Clim of the Clough,

And William of Cloudesley.

103To the court they all prepare,Euen as fast as they can hie,Where graciously they were receiud,With mirth and merry glee.

103

To the court they all prepare,

Euen as fast as they can hie,

Where graciously they were receiud,

With mirth and merry glee.

104Cisley faire is wend aloneVpon a gelding faire;A proprer damsell neuer cameIn any courtly ayre.

104

Cisley faire is wend alone

Vpon a gelding faire;

A proprer damsell neuer came

In any courtly ayre.

105‘Welcome, Cisley,’ said the queene,‘A lady I thee make,To wait vpon my owne person,In all my chiefest state.’

105

‘Welcome, Cisley,’ said the queene,

‘A lady I thee make,

To wait vpon my owne person,

In all my chiefest state.’

106So quickly was this matter done,Which was so hardly doubted,That all contentions after thatFrom court were quickly rowted.

106

So quickly was this matter done,

Which was so hardly doubted,

That all contentions after that

From court were quickly rowted.

107Fauourable was the king;So good they did him finde,The[y] neuer after sought againeTo vex his royall minde.

107

Fauourable was the king;

So good they did him finde,

The[y] neuer after sought againe

To vex his royall minde.

108Long time they liued in court,So neare vnto the kingThat neuer after was attemptOffred for any thing.

108

Long time they liued in court,

So neare vnto the king

That neuer after was attempt

Offred for any thing.

109God aboue giue all men graceIn quiet for to liue,And not rebelliously abroadTheir princes for to grieue.

109

God aboue giue all men grace

In quiet for to liue,

And not rebelliously abroad

Their princes for to grieue.

110Let not the hope of pardon mooueA subiect to attemptHis soueraigne’s anger, or his loueFrom him for to exempt.

110

Let not the hope of pardon mooue

A subiect to attempt

His soueraigne’s anger, or his loue

From him for to exempt.

111But that all men may ready beWith all their maine and mightTo serue the Lord, and loue the King,In honor, day and night!

111

But that all men may ready be

With all their maine and might

To serue the Lord, and loue the King,

In honor, day and night!

a.14. In mickle.

61. Some.

134. canst thou.

203. man’s y-meat.

212. he fro.

282. I drest.

352. That her purpose he had of sped.

354. they read.

374. amaze.

461. was yso.

641. ythen.

762. euery chone.

921. more subjects true.

933. WhichforWhere.

b.14. In many.

52. willforwell.

61. Soone.

63. to thee.

131. swordforstrong.

134. thou canst.

184. I must.

191. ffowle.

194. was neuer.

203. man’s meate.

212. him ffroe.

213. dop the.

223. slaine ffor thee & mee.

282. To see: well drest.

311. God speed.

313. doe yee.

321. womanforIone.

322. inwanting: to you.

352. of her purpose shee had sped.

354. they did tread.

373. a maze.

403. The ffattest.

443. mist Cisleys companye.

452. allured this.

461. soe.

524. in myfornow in.

572. That was both stiffe.

574. Weer neere.

611. strong & stout.

661. William.

682. Itt was the best.

732. You shall be hanged.

733. plott yee have.

762. euer-eche one.

783. The craued.

794. I tell you verry true.

861. Liuings.

921. subiects more true.

933. Where.

971. Gramercy.

1004. Welcome shee shall bee soone.

1041. is gone.

1054. cheefe estate.

1064. rooted.

1073. ffoughtforsought.

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